Polycystic Kidney Disease Medical Directorship Program (PKD-MDP)

Polycystic Kidney Disease Medical Directorship Program (PKD-MDP)

APPLICATIONS OPEN

May 1, 2025

DURATION

1 Year

Live Virtual Sessions

PROGRAM FEE

$690 | $490 | $290

adjusted for High-income economies | Middle-income economies | Low-income economies

About

This program is tailored for nephrologists seeking to enhance their knowledge of PKD diagnosis, management, and advancements in the field. It also provides a pathway to successful medical directorship in PKD clinics and centers of excellence. This year-long program features monthly interactive sessions designed to educate nephrologists and improve care for PKD patients. It is open to both national and international participants. Selected scholarships are available for applicants from low to middle economic backgrounds. For more information, please contact rica.pitogo@glomcon.org.

How It's Structured

Session Format: Each session will consist of a one-hour lecture followed by a one-hour interactive workshop.

Assignments: Assignments will be distributed two weeks prior to each session, focusing on specific aspects of PKD (diagnosis, genetic testing, management).

Presentations: Fellows will prepare a 10–15-minute presentation addressing assignment questions, including relevant studies and papers.

Literature review: Assigned fellows will summarize pertinent papers for discussion during the session.

Research Opportunities: Fellows are encouraged to collaborate with faculty on review papers with mentorship support.

Assessment and Evaluation:

Knowledge Evaluation: Two tests throughout the program: Initial to assess the base knowledge and then a test on the last session. Test scores are not a requirement for receiving the certification; completion of the tests is mandatory.
Peer Evaluation: Fellows and faculty will critique cases presented by their peers.

Certification of Completion: Upon successful completion of the program, participants will receive a certificate from GlomCon, which can enhance their professional credentials.

Mentorship Opportunities: Participants will have access to experts in the field for guidance throughout the program duration.

Fellowship Expectations

As a participant in our PKD fellowship program, we expect you to:

Attendance: Attend at least 90% of the monthly faculty sessions. This is a requirement to receive your certificate upon completion.
Leadership: Lead one or more faculty meetings and topic-based discussions.
Presentation: Deliver a year-end talk at your home institution using content you've developed during your fellowship.

Time Commitment

Weekly Engagement: You can expect to spend approximately 2-4 hours per week on fellowship activities.
Institutional Support: It is essential to secure support from your home institution’s training program leadership.
Session Structure: Our sessions will be held once a month, supplemented by pre-session work to facilitate a flipped classroom model during our workshops.

Who Should Apply

This fellowship is ideal for individuals who:

Have a strong interest in PKD.
Are enthusiastic about medical education and keen to connect with peers from various organizations while exploring innovative learning methods.
Are looking to pursue a clinical or research career in the field of PKD.
Aim to enhance their skill sets and clinical competency in managing patients with rare diseases.

Requirements

Language Proficiency: All participants must be proficient in English (both spoken and written) and possess a strong interest in PKD.
Application: First-year fellows are encouraged to apply but must include a statement from their program directors explicitly supporting their application and ensuring protected time during fellowship hours.

To apply, please submit the following:

A letter of interest.
An up-to-date resume/CV.
Optional: A letter of support from your local Program Director, Chief, or employer, committing to protected time for fellowship activities, addressed to the GlomCon Fellowship Program.

Fees: Upon acceptance and successful enrollment in the program, the fellowship fee for the 10-month training period is as follows:
- High-Income Economies: $690
- Middle-Income Economies: $490
- Low-Income Economies: $290

Note: A 25% rebate is available for group applications through local training programs (minimum of 2, maximum of 6 participants).

Scholarship Opportunities: Limited scholarship support is available for applicants from low-income and middle-income countries, awarded based on availability and the order of application receipt.

Curriculum

Module 1: Diagnosis of PKD
- Techniques in Imaging and Genetic Testing
- Prenatal counseling

Module 2: Risk Stratification and Prognosis in ADPKD
- Understanding and Applying Various Scoring Systems

Module 3: Management of PKD
- Strategies for Treatment: When and How to Intervene

Module 4: Managing Extrarenal Manifestations
- Focus on Polycystic Liver Disease (PLD) and Cardiovascular Issues

Module 5: Complications Associated with PKD and Approaches to Pain Management
- Addressing Kidney Stones, Cyst Bleeding, Mental Health Concerns, and Extrarenal Complications
- Beyond Long-Term Pain Medication: Alternative Strategies

Module 6: Polycystic Kidney Disease in Pediatrics and Transition Care Strategies

Module 7: Post-Transplantation Care
- Managing Native Kidneys After Kidney Transplantation

Module 8: Case-Based Discussions and Assessment
- Interactive Case Studies and Knowledge Quizzes

Module 9: Clinical Trials and Research
- Overview of Current and Future Studies in PKD

Module 10: Establishing a PKD Clinic
- Steps to Develop a PKD Clinic and Aspiring Towards a Center of Excellence

Important Dates

Application is open from 1 May 2025 to 15 July 2025.
Acceptance notification on 15 August 2025.
Orientation takes place on 16 September 2025.
Graduation takes place on July 2026.

Live Session Dates for 2025 Program:

September 16, 2025

October 14, 2025

November 18, 2025

December 16, 2025

January 13, 2026

February 10, 2026

March 10, 2026

April 21, 2026

May 12, 2026

June 9, 2026

July 14, 2026

August 11, 2026

*dates are subject to change*

Program Team

Fouad T. Chebib, MD, FASN

Program Chair

Associate Professor of Medicine

Mayo Clinic College of Medicine

Consultant, Division of Nephrology and Hypertension
Director, Mayo Clinic Florida

PKD Center of Excellence

Director, Discovery and Translational

PKD Research Lab

Research Chair, Division of Nephrology

and Hypertension

Sayna Norouzi, MD, FASN

Program Director

Director, Glomerular Disease Clinic
Director, GlomCon Glomerular Disease Fellowship Program
Director, Polycystic Kidney Disease Clinic
Associate Professor, Loma Linda University Medical Center, CA

Neera K. Dahl, MD, PhD

Associate Program Director

Director of the PKD Foundation

Center of Excellence, Mayo Clinic Rochester
Associate Director,

Mayo Clinic Translational PKD Center
Professor of Medicine,

Mayo Clinic College of Medicine

Pranav S. Garimella, MD, MPH

Associate Program Director

Associate Professor of Clinical Medicine

Director, UC San Diego

Acute Dialysis Services

Director, UC San Diego

PKD Center of Excellence

Division of Nephrology and Hypertension

University of California San Diego

2025 Faculty

Alex Chang

MD, MS

Associate Professor of Medicine, Departments of Nephrology and Population Health Sciences

Co-Director, Center for Kidney Health Research

Co-Director, Geisinger PKD Center of Excellence

Geisinger

Dean Nourbakhsh

Associate Clinical Professor
Department of Pediatrics
Division of Nephrology
UCSD Medical Center/Rady Children's Hospital

Gauri Bhutani

MBBS, FASN

Director, UW-PKD Center of Excellence
Clinical Associate Professor
Division of Nephrology
School of Medicine and Public Health
University of Wisconsin-Madison

Osama Amro
MD, MS

Director, Swedish-Providence Nephrology

Director, Swedish Polycystic Kidney Disease Center of Excellence

Advisory Board Member, National Kidney Foundation

Shennen Mao

Assistant Professor of Surgery

Mayo Clinic Florida

Surgical Director for Living Donation and Kidney Transplant

Mayo Clinic Florida

Anjay Rastogi

MD, PhD

Director | PKD Program
Director l CORE Kidney Program
Professor and Clinical Chief of Nephrology
David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA
UCLA Health

Erum A. Hartung

MD, MTR

Co-Director of the Kidney/Liver Program
Director of the Pediatric Nephrology

Fellowship Program
Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
Assistant Professor of Pediatrics
Perelman School of Medicine of the

University of Pennsylvania

Kassem Safa

MD, FASN

Assistant Professor of Medicine,
Harvard Medical School
Associate Physician,
Nephrology, Massachusetts General Hospital
Transplant Nephologist,
Transplant Center, Massachusetts General Hospital
Clinic Investigator, Asst Prof,
Nephrology - Renal Assoc, Mass General Research Institute

Peter Harris

PhD

Director of the Mayo Clinic Translational Polycystic Kidney Disease Center
Gordon H. and Violet Bartels Professor of Cellular Biology
Professor of Biochemistry/Molecular Biology and Medicine
Department of Nephrology and Hypertension
Mayo Clinic

Terry J. Watnick

Joan B. and John H. Sadler, MD

Professor of Nephrology
Principal Investigator, NIDDK-funded Maryland Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD) Research and Translation Core Center (RTCC)

Craig Gordon

MD, MS

Nephrology Fellowship Program Director
Boston University Medical Center
Professor of Medicine, Tufts Medical Center

Frederic F. Rahbari-Oskoui MD, MS, FASN

Professor of Medicine

Director of the Polycystic Kidney Diseases Center of Excellence at Emory

Master Clinician

Emory University School of Medicine

Meyeon Park

MD, MAS

University of California, San Francisco
UCSF PKD Center of Excellence
Swart Family Endowed Professor in Nephrology

Priya Deshpande

Associate Professor

Barbara T. Murphy Division of Nephrology
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
Medical Director

Davita Greenpoint Peritoneal Dialysis

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Is there a fee to join the weekly live seminar?

GlomCon seminars are free. Sign up for our global mailing list to receive weekly invites and join our Sunday sessions.
Can I apply for a scholarship?

Currently, our scholarships are based only on the speakers/lecturers who will waive their fees. Scholarship support is available on a limited basis and provided to a small number of applicants from low-income and middle-income countries based on availability and in the order the application was received. Thus, scholarships are awarded towards the end of the program where we refund the course fee to eligible fellows.
What should I do if I can't attach files/documents in the application form?

If you are having issues attaching your documents please try to do the following below to troubleshoot: Try emptying your browser cache Use a different browser Use a different computer Use a different Google account Rename your file (particularly if it contains special characters)
Will there be a certificate after the program?

Yes, a certificate will be given IF you have completed and pass the requirements of the program.
Can we apply as a group?

Application as a group is available. A 25% rebate for group applications through their local training programs. If applying as a group please communicate with all other group members and together come up with a unique code that will identify you all and your institution. Code MUST be IDENTICAL among all group members so that we can group you and apply the group discount if the application is accepted. (no spaces and special characters!) Additionally, there is limit on the number applying under group application (min. of 2 and max. of 6). It is important to note that successful selection is not guaranteed for every member of the group.
Will the class be available in other language?

The program is only available in English. GlomCon ILA is currently offering a Spanish fellowship program. Click here for more information: https://www.glomcon.org/iberolatinamerica-fellowship
When will the application open for the program?

Currently, the application for 2024/2025 GlomCon Fellowship Program is closed. Updates for the 2025/2026 program will be announced sometime in June or May 2025. Please check back for future updates on GlomCon.org
Which countries can apply for the program?

Everyone around the world can apply for the program. For more information, visit: https://www.glomcon.org/glomerular-disease-fellowship
What is the Kidney Pathology Certificate Program?

The GlomCon Kidney Pathology Certificate Program is a comprehensive educational initiative designed to provide in-depth knowledge and expertise in the field of kidney pathology. Developed by leading experts in the field, this program offers a structured curriculum that covers various aspects of kidney pathology, including both basic and advanced topics.
How can I join the program?

The next cohort will open its application during November - December 2024. The program will start in January and run through December 2025. To join, the participant must complete some basic training in pathology or nephrology. For more information you can check out this link with more details about the program: https://www.glomcon.org/kidney-pathology-certificate-program
Is there a scholarship for this program?

Unfortunately, there is no scholarship provided for this program.
Can I pay the course fee monthly or is it a one-time fee?

At this time, a one-time fee is only accepted. Payment must be made before the start of the program. The course fee for this program is $690 for participants from high-income countries $490 for participants from mid-income countries $290 for participants from low-income countries Link to check your region and income for course fees https://datatopics.worldbank.org/world-development-indicators/the-world-by-income-and-region.html
What are the requirements to be able to join the program?

To be eligible for the program you must have completed some basic training in pathology or nephrology.
Will the class be available in other language?

The whole program will be discussed in the English language.
When are live sessions hosted?

The live sessions are scheduled every month and fall on a Tuesday at 11AM EST (New York Time). While there are no definite dates for now, the session schedule will be announced three weeks ahead of time.
Will the live webinars be recorded for replay?

Yes, all live sessions will be recorded and uploaded within 24 hrs after each session ends to my.glomcon.org for later viewing. Please note that recorded sessions do not count toward the mandatory attendance/participation requirement for the program.
Will there be a certificate after finishing the program

Upon finishing the program, you will receive a certificate. To qualify for the certificate, you need to meet these three requirements: Attend at least 80% of the total live sessions held. Pass the midterm exam. Pass the final exam.

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